Rebuilding the picture of our lives. Using Art therapy to help chronic illness

If you are living with a chronic health condition you probably know how it felt when the picture you had of your life was changed irrevocably.

You also know how it feels to live with it today.

These two experiences may match or diverge. In a way we carry both and it isn't always easy.

In this short video I am attempting to work with some of the mixed thoughts and feelings that come up for many of us living with chronic health conditions.

Frustration, anger, fear, can be mixed in with acceptance, appreciation and gratitude. It doesn't always fit together smoothly as a picture. But that's ok.

If your life has been thrown up into the air following a diagnosis no matter how long ago here are some ways art therapy could help:

• We don't need to avoid the hard stuff. We can show it in images that capture its essence, but keep it safely at a distance, held in a piece of your art.

• We don't need to make it pretty or perfect or make sense. Illness isn't any of those things is it?

• We can use your creativity to grab back the pieces and rearrange them in a way that makes sense for you now.

• your art can give you back a sense of control. When so much is taken out of our hands this is a true gift.

Please remember,

The picture may have changed

but

everyday it is evolving

and

very far

from finished.

The question is why wouldn't you use every creative, imaginative tool you can get to help you rebuild?

I hope you take something you need from my imperfect little video showing me working with art to make sense of illness.

Until next time,

Stay creative,

Ellen

Using art the rebuild after a chronic illness diagnosis